Joel M Bradshaw

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

14He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

15The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”–1 Kings 19

1. Elijah had just witnessed one of the greatest and most powerful theological moments in Israel’s history.
2. Yet, demon-worshiping Queen Jezebel threatened his life and Elijah ran.
3. In his depression, Elijah felt despair and fear. He was hiding when God met with him.
4. His story was that he was alone and therefore could do no more good.
5. God met him and changed Elijah’s story. God still had work for Elijah to do. God also reminded Elijah that he wasn’t alone.
6. In depression, we tell ourselves stories that weight us down. The best move is to tell ourselves biblical truth and change our thinking. God reminded Elijah of the truth, and this would have changed Elijah’s self-talk. I am not alone. God still has a plan for me. There is hope now.
7. What stories to you tell yourself about your situation? How can believing God’s Word change your stories? This practice has been a great blessing for me in my own depression journey.–JMB